Nonclogging atomizer



Jan. 16, 1951 P. P. FRACCHIONE 2,538,416

NONCLOGGING ATOMIZER Filed June 26, 1947 INVENTOR. 1% ,q ccH/oiws Patented Jan. 16, 1951 OFFICE 2,538,416 HNONGLOGGING ,ATOMIZER :PaillP. Fracchione, Lakewood, .Ohio Application June'26, 1947,:Serial hlo; 757;265

This invention relates -to. an-ratomizer and, while not limitedthereto, iscparticularly adapted for use withhair dressing compositions'ofgath type commonly designated lacquers. l

In the hair dressing art itiis frequentlyzadesirable to apply a quick-drying preparation-30f the type commonly'referred :to...as;'atffiacquer" to the hair of a patronforthe-purposeoferetaining the. latter in. a desired wcoifr'ure. Various methodshave been employed forzapply n Su solutions of which spraying athev-solutionwrupon the hair is :perhaps the easiest'qa-nd quickest mode of application. .Nevertheless; attempts .tozeuse conventional atomizersxfor this purpose :result inconsiderable difficulties anddelaysbeoause-the solutions employed: are quick drying andsomewhat adhesive with theresult that the-conventional atomizers very quickly becomeicloggedand inoperative. Since the --=conventional- 'atomizers employ a constructionwhich. iszdiflicultto clean, their use for this-purpose is ,far fromsatisfactory. I-t therefore, an objector-this inventionz-to provide a novel=and improved atomizer which is so constructed and arranged: that. itmioes; not easily become clogged even whenwemployedwith relatively adhesive and/or quickgadryingysolutions.

'Another object of the :invention isutol-provide an improved atomizerior use with :hair :lac'quer or-the like and which may beamorereadily cleaned. if. it becomes clogged bydryinggiofathe solution thereon. p

A further objectof the invention; is to-;provide anovel and improved:-,atomizer;,in-iwl'iichgthe upper end of the tube. or nozzle through-which the solution is drawn is'normally-spaced agrelatively large distance from then-tube-athrough which a blast of air issues for=producingsthe spray, and in which the latter tube is; provided with a portion which is automaticallyadvanced relatively close to the upper end'of :the, liquid conveying tube duringoperation of ;,the-. atomizer and is retracted when'the latter is notin opera tion.

An additionalqobject of the :invention is-- to provide a noveland" improved atomizer :which is of rugged. construction, is .pleasing -in;appearance, inexepensive to manufacture, 1 andwhich may be readily employed- .with/ iquick.-.-drying and/oradhesive fluids to produce a fine spray thereof with ,less clogging than priorccom structions.

The invention further resides;in:-certain::novel .features of 7 construction; I and: combinations and arrangements of parts, and. furthercObJ'BOtsand 2 advantages, thereof-will; :be. apparent to -those skilled in the art to which it pertains fromqthe fol-lowing description vof the presentv gpreierred embodiment "thereon,- described with refenenceto theaccompanyingdrawing in which similanareference characters represent correspondingparts throughout the several views; and in which:

'Fig. 1: is anenlarged view, partiallyzineside elevation. and partially in section,,ofganxatomizer constructed; inaccorclaricev with this. invention. the po ion in section:being1takenisubstantially along the line l--I of Fig. 3 and glo.oking in-the provided with a, shoulderawhich;.engagesth'fiF direction-indicat d 1 by the arr ws Fig. 2. is a fragmentary view; pa tially nsid elevation and partially; in section, illustratingthe atomizer shown in Fig. 1 in operation; and

- Fig; 3 is afragmentary. plan View of:-.the-,:b u1b and-:cap member j of the atomizer illustratedcsin Figs. ;l and 2.

v The embodimentrof the atomizer. illustrated in the drawings comprises acontainenqlefiask-l0 {or theqliquid to be; sprayed or vaporized. ,:.:'"'Ih contain r m v v ys si ed shaneibut isi-here illustratedas-being,of frusto-conical confi uration 7 and- ;having P an -.1pstanding screwrtthreaded neclg: -portion= l lupon. which is; screwed: a cap member- |2.- The cap member: l2 maybe, formed of plastic, hard";rubb. r metal oreanyssi ilar material and is provided with anintegral.;upstandingbracket or flange portion l3 disposedat .onehsidepf a central: opening I4. through :the top of @the, --,capmember. Within-the icpening ,1 i l-of the cap l2 is ;removably positionedi the lower end of a. plug memberlS, the uppenpor;

tion of which .ex-tendsabove the topoi theycap l2 and. may have anydesired configurationmExtending centrally: through the plug member I 5 is a hollow bore within which. is.,positioned a nozzlelmember I6 having a, relatively =small; diameter bore .therethrough, the member lss being upper end. of the, p1ugl5. The lower end ofethe nozzle member. I 6 communicates the 4 uppersend of a counterbore-in the lowerv end'of the plug l5 and Within this counterbore is positioned the upper end, of a. vertical extending-tube I1v,:,-the lower.- end of. whichextends closely adjacent the bottom of .the .flask or container. J0. It will be observed that-thediameter of thestubevll is considerablyv greater than that of therbore in the: nozzle; member I 6, thereby facilitating: the

return oithasolution Within the n zzleemember. after use of the atomizer is terminated, as. will be. hereinafter-described. Inthe constructionshown, thecap; I2 is formed "from the inner end of the bushing 22.

and described as formed of separate members, and of different materials, it will be apparent" that the plug member, nozzle and tube l'l'may all be formed integrally of the same .material, if desired. It is also possible to form the cap |2 integral with these parts'by casting or molding them of plastic or the like. However, the

As so con- 4 When the latter type of bulb is employed, the bore 2| must either be inclined, as shown in Fig. 1 M2, or a light compression spring provided between the flange 24 and the inner end of the bushing 22 to retract the tube 23 when the bulb is allowed to expand after having been compressed.

When the parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 1,the.outer end of the tube 23' is spaced a relatively large distance from the upper end of the nozzle |6. Hence any of the hair lacquer or other solution which may have collected about illustrated construction .is preferred because of theease of manufacture and because it enables the parts to bemore readily cleaned when necessary.

The cap member |2is additionally provided with an opening [8, of relatively small diameter,

within which a rod I9 of wire or the like is loosely and slidably disposed, the upper end of this-wire being bent as illustrated in Fig. 3 to prevent the rod from dropping into the container or flask 1B. This rod may be readily re- -moved andemployed for cleaning the atomizer as will hereinafter appear and, since the rod has a relatively loose fit within the bore I8, a

small entrance for air is provided to replace the liquid which is removed from the container It by operation of the atomizer as hereinafter described. v r The flange or bracket I3 has an outwardly extending, substantially cylindrical portion through which extends a bore 2|, the outer end of a bushing 22. The shank of the bushing 22 extends within the bore 2| and a tube 23 is slidable within the bushing 22 and the bore 2|. The inner end of the tube 23 is provided with a of which is counterbored'to receive the flange I flanged portion 24 disposed within the bore 2| :and'slidable therein. 'The tube 23 is retained within the bushing 22 and the bore 2| by means of'a short sleeve or bushing 25 which is fitted in the opposite end of the bore 2| from that in which the bushing 22 is disposed, the inner end of-the sleeve or bushing 25 being spaced The outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20 of the-bracket or flange I3 is provided with a circular groove within which is fitted the inturned flange portion 26, surrounding the air exhaust opening, of a resilient syringe bulb-'21 of conventional construction.

It will be observed that the cylindrical portion 20 and the bore 2| therethrough are inclined so that, when the atomizer is not in use, the tube 23' is positioned substantially as shown in Fig. l with its flanged portion 24 abutting against the inner end of the sleeve or bushing 25. The tube 23 will assume this position due to the incline of the bore 2| and also due to the action of the air which is drawn into the bulb 2! when the latter is released after having been compressed. When the bulb 21 has but one opening therein, as shown, it is not necessary that the bore 2| be inclined since the air entering the bulb, when the latter expands after being compressed, will retract the movable tube 23. However, the bulb 21 may be of the type in which a valved air inlet theitop'of the nozzle It cannot come in contact that any mist or spray resulting from operation of the atomizer will not be drawn into the bulb 2! since the outer end of the tube 23 is withdrawn from the vicinity of the top of nozzle l6 as soon as the bulb begins to draw air therein.

With an atomizer constructed in the manner shown in'the drawing, the cap 12 is removed from the container IS, the liquid to be sprayed is placed within'the container, and the cap I2 is then screwed upon the top of the container. If a suiflciently tight seal is not secured between the cap l2 and the top of the neck H a gasket 28 may be employed therebetween in the conventional manner. In using the atomizer the operator grasps the flask ID in one hand and the bulb 21 in the other. Upon squeezing or compressing the bulb 21 the air contained therein is forced outwardly through the bore 2| in the flange member I3; A part of this air in passing outwardly, as indicated by the arrows in- Fig. 2, strikes the flange portion 24 of the tube 23 forcing the latter forwardly within the bore to the position as shown inFig. 2 with its outer end adjacent the upper end of the .nozzle IE, it beingobserved thatthe axis of the tube 23 and bore ZI intersect the axis of the nozzle |6 adjacent the upper end of the latter. As the operator continues to manipulate the bulb 21, the air flowing out of the tube 23 passes over and about the upper end of the nozzle I6, thus promoting a partial vacuum at the top of the tube and, as is well known, this causesthe liquidwithin the container l0 to rise within the tube l1 and the nozzle IS, the liquid emerging from the top of the nozzle being sprayed or atomized by the air flowing thereby. Each time the bulb 21 is allowed to expand, the tube 23 will return to its initial positionas shown in Fig. l,

- the tube being moved outwardly as indicated in opening in communication with the bore 2|.

Fig. 2 each time the bulb is compressed. Hence, any droplets of solution which may be clinging to the upper end of the nozzle IE will not dry in contact with the end of the tube 23, nor will a portion of the mist or spray bedrawn into the bulb 21, as is the case in conventional atomizers where the tube corresponding to the nozzle member l6 is aflixed adjacent the orifice through which the air is forced. As a result the atomizer of this invention may be used repeatedly without the latter becoming clogged during the intervals of non-use even though quick drying and/or relatively adhesive solutions'are employed.

As mentioned previously, the internal diameter of the tube I1 is several times the diameter of the bore in the nozzle member i6 and the length of the tube I1 is several times that of the nozzle member. Hence, when use of the atomizer is terminated, the liquid which has been drawn upwardly-within the tube l1 and the nozzle member IE will readily drop to the common level of the ana am liquid!in-tliemontainerwi This follows from the fact that the: internal; diameter of the tube: 112-- is sutlicie-n'tly large so' that there: is-nocappreciable capillary efiect therein: 80317151317; the liquid therein fallsby gravity aszsoori as now of airpast the: top of the nozzle is'terniinated. since thecolumnof liquid in: the tube 1 1' is relatively large: with' re spect to; that in the'nczzlemember I firthe-va'c'uum produced by; the descent of the formerwill drawthe liquid outof the bore in' the nozzlememberg. thus overcoming the tendency of the liquid to re mainim the latter due'to'capillary: action and the: adhesiveness ofthe-liquid Therefore theboreot the? nozzle member 16" is automatically substantially freed of the liquid immediately after use of the atomizer is terminatedl a If cleaning-of. the: atomizer becomes necessary, this operation can be more readily eff'ectedthan in prior art devices by virtue of the novel construction of the atomizer of this invention. This follows from the fact that the nozzle I6 and thetube 23"are normally spaced from each other'and extend at-an angle with respect to each other so that the end of each is accessible for cleaning without undue interference; Hence it is only necessary towithdraw therod' [9" from its opening within: the cap 12 and insertthe latterwithin the nozzle member is to clear any obstructions therefrom. Likewise, the rod lama-y be readily inserted into the tube 23, after removing anysolution clinging to the rod, without the necessity of taking the atomizer apart. However, this latter operation should not ordinarily be necessarysince the solution will not enter the tube 23 during normal use due to the automatic retraction of the tube. If it be desired to thoroughly cleanse the device, as, for example, when it is to be used with an entirely difierent kind of solution, the parts may be readily disconnected for separate cleaning.

While the present preferred embodiment of an atomizer constructed in accordance with the invention has been illustrated and described in considerable detail, it will be apparent that numerous modifications and adaptations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, the angle between the tube 23 and the nozzle It may be varied and changes may be made in the positions and configurations of various other parts of the device. Moreover, a bayonet or other type of connection may be employed instead of screw threads to attach the cap member l2 to the container l0. Also, the cap member may be made to fit the necks of bottles or containers in which the lacquer or other solution is sold so that a separate flask or container [0 is not necessary. Also, the bushing or sleeve 25 may be omitted and the movable tube 23 prevented from being drawn into the bulb 2'! by means of an external flange on the tube adjacent its outer end.

Other modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is .not to be considered as limited to the exact details of construction or arrangements of parts illustrated and described but only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. An atomizer comprising a cap member adapted to be attached in an opening of a container for a liquid to be sprayed, said cap member having an opening extending therethrough, a tube having its upper end positioned in the opening in the cap and its lower end extending adjacent the bottom of the container, a nozzle member extending above said cap and having a bore therethrough communicating: withrsaiditube, a resi lient jsyringe bullet having: am ai ri exhaust opening, a lbngitudinallyflmovablei tube? forming a part ofthe: path for-ith'e aliri issuingliir'oml exhaust opening: oi: said bulb, :means carried: by saidz'cap for:supporting.the:saichbulbianu.amcvabie tubewiththe outer enact the latter from: the upper endof said: nozzle'meniben and withl the axis? of said: movable tube interseeting .& the axis-oft said.- nozzle adjacent thefiup'per end oti'tliel latter,. and. a flange on. said movable tubeadiaw cent its; inner. end adaptedtd be engaged and moved .by' the" air exhausted from 'saidt bul ld therebymoving. the outer endear said 'movabl'e tube: adjacent the upper end ot saidnozzlemember sov that liquid: is drawn -upwardly firomstl ie' container through the nozzle: member andzis di vided into a fine spray by the air issuing-Linens. said movable-tube; I 1

2. An: atomizer. comprising a cap member: adapted to be attached toanopening-- 111 a}; cone tainer for the liquid-to be sprayed; a tubular member extending through arr opening said: cap member'in sealinglrelationship .withzthelower' end of: saidtubular: member extending inte the: liquid in the: container when the c'apzmemberrisi positioned thereon, means for producing; asfioW of air past the upper end o'f' saidtubulari' memt ber including a longitudinally mo'vabletubezformr-p, ing a part ofv the path for the'air, means carried by said capfor: supporting said! air' flowproducing means with the axis of .saidmovable'tirbd intersecting the axisof sa'i'd tubulanmembeiram' jacent the upper end of the latter and with the outer end of said movable tube spaced from the upper end of the tubular member, and means on said movable tube adjacent its inner end adapted to be engaged and moved by the air flowing from said air producing means thereby moving the outer end of said movable tube adjacent the upper end of said tubular member so that liquid is drawn upwardly from the container through the tubular member and is divided into a line spray by the air issuing from the movable tube.

3. An atomizer of the type defined in claim 2 and in which the axis of said movable tube is inclined with its inner end at a lower elevation than its outer end so that the said movable tube moves away from said tubular member when the air is not fiowingfrom. said producing means.

4. An atomizer comprising a cap member adapted to be attached to an opening in a container for the liquid to be sprayed, a tubular member extending through an opening in said cap member in sealing relationship, with the lower end of said tubular member extending into the liquid in the container when the cap member is positioned thereon, a resilient syringe bulb having an air exhaust opening, a longitudinally movable tube forming a part of th path for the by the air exhausted from said bulb thereby mov- I ing the outer end of said movable tube adjacent the upper end of said tubular member so that liquid is drawn upwardly from the container through the tubular member and is divided into 2 igne spray by the air issuing from the movable 5.- An atomizer comprising a cap 'member' adapted to be attached to an opening in a icontamer for the liquid to be sprayed, said cap member having an opening ,therethrough adapted to communicate with the interior of the container to which it is attached, a plug member remov-.

ably fitted in the opening of the cap member with said tube, a resilient syringe bulb having an air exhaust opening a longitudinally movable tube forming a part of the path for theair issuing from the exhaust opening of said bulb, means carried by said cap member for supporting said bulb and said movable tube with the outer end of said movable tube spaced from the upper end of said nozzle member and with the axis of the movable tube intersecting the axis of said nozzle member adjacent the upper end of the latter, and

means on said movable tubeadjacent its inner end adapted to be engaged and moved by the air exhausted from said bulb thereby moving the outer end of said movable tube adjacent the upper end of said nozzle member so that liquid is drawn upwardly from the container through the nozzle memberrand is divided into a fine spray by the air issuing from the bulb. a

8: 6. A liquidiatomize'r comprising, ailiquidsupiply member having a discharge orifice; an air discharge member having an orifice for directing a stream of air transversely of the axis of the first mentioned orifice, said air. dischargemember being. movable. between two positions by'the passage of 'air directed therethrough for moving the discharge orifice thereof from a position relatively remote from the discharge orifice of? the liquid supply member to a position adjacent the discharge orifice of the liquid supply member; and. means for. directing air underlpr'essure through the air discharge member.

' PAUL P. FRACCHIONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent? j UNITED STATES PATENTS Lassmann July 15, 1941' 

